The University of Arkansas females's basketball team's quest of its initial Female's National Invitational Competition championship because 1999 is apparently paying homage to the instructor that led the Razorbacks to the title virtually 24 years back.

Gary Blair, the winningest train in Arkansas' program background, was an assistant train for Louisiana Tech from 1980-1985 prior to taking a head training placement at Stephen F. Austin from 1985-1993-- the Razorbacks' very first two opponents of the 2023 WNIT.

He after that spent the next 10 periods building the Razorbacks program to elevations it has yet to reach again. Arkansas had 5 NCAA Tournament appearances under Blair, including a Final Four in 1998, as well as won the WNIT crown the following year.

Arkansas (22-12) beat Louisiana Tech in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday night, and hosts Stephen F. Austin the second round at 7 p.m. tonight inside Walton Sector.

Mike Neighbors, who is in his sixth season mentoring the Razorbacks, comes from the Blair mentoring tree. Next-door neighbors was Arkansas' supervisor of procedures in 1999 complying with a successful 5 years coaching at the senior high school rankings.

He thinks about Blair to be one of his biggest mentors, as well as a close friend. The "Gary Blair Mentoring Trip" his group is taking place was brought up throughout a current call between the two.

" I [chatted with him] a little bit in between him making a six-foot downhill birdie putt on 8," Neighbors said with a laugh. "He could have cared much less what I was speaking about. He was more curious about explaining his golf match. But, yeah, I imply obviously 2 areas that you can't truly discuss without him."

The Razorbacks are really hoping the second quit on the "scenic tour" goes likewise to the initial stop. Arkansas took care of Louisiana Tech all 40 mins Thursday as well as asserted a 69-47 win.

Stephen F. Austin (27-6) presents a brand-new challenge for his group, as the Ladyjacks had an NCAA Event caliber season, but as the Western Athletic Seminar's front runner lost in its second game of the league tournament.

" Actually, we enjoy them a lot," Neighbors stated. "My other half Jayci coached there in the past. So, she hired a great deal of those kids. We see them a fair bit. I've obtained a lot of regard for exactly how [Coach] Mark [Kellogg] runs his program. They're difficult to safeguard, they play several defenses, and also it'll be truly tough for us to have them entirely looked.

" It was a team that kind of obtained a poor pull in their tournament, yet is an NCAA caliber group year in and year out."

Though Neighbors' group was disappointed to miss out on a proposal to the NCAA Women's Competition after exceeding 20 wins for the 3rd time with him at the helm, it has now embraced the chance at hand.

" I have actually been on groups where we have actually not made anything," claimed Chrissy Carr, that is playing her last collegiate season with Arkansas after formerly playing for Kansas State and Syracuse. "So, I enjoy that we remain in the postseason. Although it did [have an odor] that we did not make the NCAA Tournament, I more than happy that we have the ability to play in Bud [Walton Field] once again, [and also] play in front of our fans again-- specifically for my last year of college basketball."